Apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instruments



June 11, 1929. F IN L W 1,716,570

APPARATUS FOR TUNING AND ADJUSTING STRINGED FRETTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 3, 192,7 3 Sheets-Sheet,. l

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W minim Patented June 11,1929.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK WINSLOW, OF SWINDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TUNING AND ADJUSTING STRINGED FRETTED MUSICAL INSTRU- MENTS.

Application filed June 23, 1927, Serial No. 200,795, and in Great Britain. January 15, 1927.

This invention relates to apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instruments.

Vith instruments having a graduated tingerboard, with frets, such as mandolius, guitars, banjos, lutes, balalaikas, ukuleles and kindred instrun'ients, various intervals are imperfectly produced, and it is almost impossible to obtain the same note exactly in unison, from any closed (or stopped) and one open string on the same instrument. It is usual in most stringed fretted instruments, particularly with mandolins for them to go rapidly out of tune, and the strings having little tension and thus no brilliance, and the progression throughout the fingerboard is faulty, two identical notes on different strings not being resonant and neither true, with the open string, it being almost impossible to obtain true unison notes or octaves.

The object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties so that when the strings are stoppedon a fretted instrument, they will give perfect diatonic and chromatic scales or intervals within such scales or chromatic scales throughout the fingerboard, also with two or more closed strings and one open string on the same instrument, the same note in perfect unison is produced.

It has been proposed to furnish each string with a separate string bearer, which is adjustable longitudinally of the string, in such a manner as to adjust the vibration length of thesame, the string bearers also being adjusted vertically to the strings.

A device has also been proposed for var ing the tension of the strings in stringed musical instruments, in which device, the strings near an end, were each passed underneath a pair of bridges, between which was arranged a screw-bolt having an eye, through which. the string was threaded, by means of which boltthe string could be drawn upwards againstthe bridges and thereby tensioned.

In apparatus for tuning and adjusting, stringed fretted musical instruments in accordance with this invention are provided variably bevelled string hearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and the parts being disposed symmetrically about a centre-line through on the instruments from head to tail piece, the nut, bridge and tail piece being disposed at right angles to the said centre-line. I

The bearings and spaces may have V- dlagonal stringing,

shaped or otherwise suitably shaped ends to prevent forward or backward movement.

The bevels on the nut and bridge string bearers may be so made that the distance from the front of the bearing on the nut to the front-edge on the bearing on the bridge is the same for on each string or pair of strings.

The string bearers on the nut may be variably bevelled to give a different relation of each string to the frets on the fingerboard.

The anchor pins and guides in the tail piece of a mandolin for example may be such that each of the strings is the same length from anchor pin to machine string post.

The nut may have a rectangular base fitting into a corresponding groove in the instrument. The string spaces may be slotted and the string bearings staggered.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of the invention as applied for example to a mandolin.

In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates the application of the diagonal stringing from machines to tail piece.

Fig; 2 is a plan of the tail piece cover plate. 3 is a front elevation of the tail piece. Fig. 4 is a plan of the nut.

{5 is a front elevation of the bridge.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the bridge.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 4, but with the strings removed.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on line QQ of Fig. 7

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are sectional elevations taken on lines RR, S-S and T-T, respectively of Fig. 7 but showing the nut only.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the bridge string bearer and spacer.

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are sectional elevations taken on lines U-U. VV, VV-VV, and X-X respectively of Fig. 12.

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation taken on line Y-Y of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan taken on line ZZ of Fig. 17. p

In the drawings I provide variably bevelled string hearings 1 and 1 on both the nut 1 and bridge 1 together with a tailpiece 1 and a system of diagonal stringing. Everything must be disposed on a' centre line w-00 throughout the instrument from head to tailpieee. The nut 1, bridge 1 and tailpiece 1 must be at right angles to the centre line, and all parts must be symmetrically disposed, about the centre line that is to say above and below the centre line in Fig. 1 in the example illustrated. a The variably bevelled bearing 1 and slotted spacer 2 on the bric ge 1 are fitted with V shaped ends 2 to prevent their movement tion' on their bearings 1 by a slotted spacer 2' at therearof the nut, which retains them intheir correct longitudinal position. The height of the bearingoit' the nut l isthe same as the heightot the frets 2 above the fingerboard. The positionoit the nut 1 ona mandolinfingerboard is such,that tromthe front edge of the bearing oft-he strings E giving noted) on the nut. to the twelfth Ltretis exs actly one haltiot the length of the vibrating string length in use. In this case as the length of thirteen and a quarter inches is used, the. distance is six and five eighths inches :The string E is thus given the setting which is usual, but the other strings are ditferently disposed by the bevels, these variable bevels together with corresponding bevels on the bridge (described later) successfully overcome any sharpeningor flattening of n'oteswhen playing far up the fingerboard.

The disposition. ofvthe anchor. pins 3'and guides a in the tail-pieced andthe tuning pins 5 is such, that cachet the eight strings of a mandolin is the same length from anchor pin 3,'to :tuning post 5;

The diagonal stringing 5, 5 provided to retain the bridge in a central'position, and

increase the tension on the strings, which means brillance of tone. The strings are-thus held rigidly in place, preventing any alteration'oi' pitch (musicalnote) and ensuring the equalizing of the length of all strings. The nut has {a rectangular base 5. fitting a corresponding groove 17 in the neck of the. instrumentat the end of the fingerboardr The bridge string bearings lliandspacer 2 (made in one unit) have Vshape'd' ends, the

' string bearings 1 and} Pen the nut and bridge are staggered, variably bevelled or zig-zagged as at 525 5?, 5 ,5 5*, 5 5; The vibrating length'of each string, bet-ween its bearings is the samew The string spacers 2 and 2? are slotted as at 5. and each slot at the backe of spacer finishes with a radius onthe side the string inaltes an angle; The tailpiece with anchor pins 3 and guides 4 is so disposed that the length of each string from anotlierpin 3 to tu'ningpost 5 is the same, the diagonal stringing'retaining the bridge in a central position. Transversely a slot 6 is cut in the top of the centre of the'nut 1 for separating the string spacers 2 from the string bearers 1". The back corner 6 of the string spacer 1S bevelled; on plan, the necessary slots 5 are cut in the string spacer 2 to receive the eight strings of amandolin to a depth, suffrets. .Thefrontedges or the bearings for the strings G, ir, givin.g. notes G and A are H flush with the end or the fingerboard. The rear edges o-t' the bearings for the strings G, A, are bevelled'to the bottom of the slot 6 dividing thestring bearer 1 and string spacer 2K The bearing for the 1) string giving note I) is approximately in the centre of the string bearerl having a bevel onthe front and rear of the string bearer I. I The bearing for the E stringhas back edge adjoining the slot 6 between thestring bearer 1 and spacer 2 the front edge of the bearing for the E string being bevelled. I The bridge 1. is made from wood or fibre and its base is curved to] coincidewith the soundboard 7 iT-ransversely on the underr side a recess 7 iscut across in the centre, providnig two hearings to the soundboard. 1112-.

ing to the top of the bridge 1 the thickness is reduced. Three holes 8 with bellStmouths on each sidev are made horizontallythrough the thickness of theb'ridge, t'o'allow tree transmission of .vibration from string to soundboard; The top of the bridge 1 is recessed and each end of the recess is V shaped as at S for receiving the string spacer 2 and bearer 1?, The stringspacer 2" and bearer 1 are made in one unit, from pearl or some other hardsubstance fitting the recess 8 in the bridge. f Thet'ront andback are vertical and theendsare! shaped as at 2 to lit the ends of the recess 8 inthe top of the bridge. The stringspa'cer 2 is separated from the string bearer 1 by a slot 9. -The string spacer Q is the" rear raisedportion, the back corner of whiclris bevelled, the necessaryslots 10 are cut in the string spacer 2", tore ceive the eight'strin'gs of the mandolin, to a depthsufi'icient for-"each string" to make its bearing on the string'bearer 1""and each slot 7 at the back of the spacer 2 finishes with a radius on the side that the string makes an angle. towards the tail-piece. String bearers l are' cut away below the level ofthe spaces 2 and are staggeredin relation to each other for the tour pairsof strings; The width of eachbearer string seating 1 is similar to the widthof the frets. The front edges for the. strings G, A, are bevelled half-way across the bearer 1". The back edges of the bearings of the strings G, A, are formed by the dividing slot 9 between spacer 2" and bearer 1*. The bearing for the string 1) is approximately in the centre of the string bearer 1 having a bevel on the front and rear of the string bearer 1 The bearing for the E string E has its back edge bevelled tmvards thedividing slot 9 leaving the seating for the string E on the front portion of the bearer 1 It will thus be seen that the bevels on the nut and bridge string'bearers 1 and 1 are so cut that the distance from the edge of the bearing 1 on the nut 1 to the front edge of the bearing 1 on the bridge 1 is exactly the same on each pair of strings.

The tail-piece 1 is made from thin sheet metal. The two sides 11 are flanged and parallel to the outside strings, the flanges 12 tapering towards the soundboard 7, the bottom flange 14 being the same depth as the sides, forming a boX' for the anchor pins 3 and guides 4. The top flange 15 turns outwards for resting on the soundboard. Anchor pins 3 and guides 4 for the strings are circular with enlarged semi-circular or snap heads and are riveted to the back portion of the tail-piece.

The disposition of the anchor pins 3 and guides 4 is such, that each of the eight strings of a mandolin is the same length from anchor pin 3 to tuning post 5. On the left of the vertical centre line of the tail-piece are at the top two anchor pins E for the strings E, these strings taking an angular direction to the bridge 1 and parallel to each other, and thence over the nut 1. Below the anchor pins for the strings E and 011 the left of the vertical centre line of the tail-piece, are the two guides A and anchor pins A for the strings A. These strings from the guides A run parallel to each other and at an angle to the bridge 1 and thence over the nut. ()n the right of the vertical centre line of the tailpiece are at the top, two anchor pins G pins for the strings G, these strings taking an angular direction to the bridge 1 and parallel to each other, thence over the nut of the machine head. Below the anchor 3 for the string G and on the right of the vertical cen tre line of the tail-piece, are two guides D run parallel to each other and atan angle to the bridge, thence over the nut.

Over the tail-piece is a push-on flanged cover plate 16 with top flanged plate and tortoiseshell covering over the strings.

The angle of the strings 2, being increased by their diagonal disposition provides a firmer grip on-the nut 1 and bridge 1 and at the same time prevents any slackening of the strings and consequent alteration of pitch also, at the same time the bridge 1, is held in its correct position thereby, making the strings more responsive in action. 1th

usual stringing, as heretofore adopted, there is more tendency for the bridge 1 to move both transversely and longitudinally which, of course, disarranges the whole setting of the strings with the result that true notes cannot be obtained. The pairs of strings 2 011 a mandolin, for instance, are of d.itterent gauge and were these in the same relation to the frets throughout, when notes were stopped on one pair they would not be in exact resonance or unison with the same note stopped on another pair. It is usual for these to have straight bearers, that is continuous, or all in the same distance relation to the frets. To correct these false notes each pair of strings is provided with a ditterent distancerelation to the frets by staggering the bearings 1, 1 for each pair of strings.

In order to retain the same length of vibrating strings, the distance between the bearers 1, 1 for each pair of strings is kept the same, but each pair has a ditterent distance relation (i. e., the measurement from the front of the bearing to any fret is not the same for all strings) to the frets on the finger-board.

If a note be stopped with a straight bearing throughout, it may be either higher or lower than the correct pitch required and not the same as the same note 011 another pair of strings. 'i'kccording to this invention this hearing is altered to a staggered bearing so as to move the bearing for each pair of strings forward or backward, thus the pair of strings isstopped at a different distance from the bridge or nut until correct.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. Apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instruments comprising in combination variably bevelled string bearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and diagonal stringing, the parts being disposed symmetrically about a centre-line through the instrument from head to tail piece, the nut, bridge and tail-piece being disposed at right angles to the said centre-line.

2. Apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instrument comprising in combination variably bevelled string hearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and diagonal stringing, the parts being disposed symmetrically about a centre-line through the instrumentfrom head to tail-piece, the nut, bridge and tail-piece being disposed at right angles to the said centreline and shaped ends on the bridge to prevent movement lengthwise of the instrument.

3. Apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instruments con1prising in combination variably bevelled stringed bearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and diagonal stringing, the parts being disposed syimnetrically about a centre-line through the instrument from head to tail piece, the nut, bridge and tail-piece being disposed at right angles to the said centre-line, string bearers being so made that the distance from the front of the bearing on the nut to the front edge of the bearing on the bridge is thesaine ttor each string or pair of strings; 7

41; .Apparatus for tuning and ad usting;

stringed fretted musical instruments comprising :in combination variably bevelled string hearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece,

' each string to the "frets 0n the fingerboard.

' 5. Apparatus for tuning and adjusting stringed fretted musical instruments. comprising string'bearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and diagonal stringing, the parts disposed in combination variably berelled symmetrically about a centre line through the instrument from head to tail-piece, the nut, bridge and'tail piece being disposed at right angles to the said centre-line and the nut havin; a rectangular base fitting into acorresponding groove in the instrument, the string spacers being slotted and the'string bearings staggered.

6. In a mandolin, variably bevelled'string hearings on nut and bridge, a tail piece, and. diagonal stringing-the parts being disposed s nnnetri "ally about a centre hn'e through the eruinent from head to tail piece, the nut,

bridge and tail piecebeing disposed at right angles to the said centre-line and the anchor pins and guides 1n the tail-piece lQGlDfj such that each of the strings is the same length from anchor pin to machine string'post.

1 In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

' FREDERICK 'WINsLc-W. 

